What does the longlist in recruitment refer to?

The longlist in recruitment refers to the initial pool of candidates who meet the basic qualifications for a position. This stage occurs early in the hiring process, where a larger group of applicants is compiled based on their resumes, applications, and qualifications. The purpose of creating a longlist is to identify a diverse set of candidates who will then be further evaluated in the screening process.

While the final candidates selected for interviews typically come from this longlist, they represent a smaller subset following additional evaluations, such as interviews or assessments. Additionally, a list of preferred candidates from previous applications pertains to past recruitment processes and not to current candidates. The candidates who did not pass the screening process are not included in any lists related to potential hiring, as they are already eliminated from consideration. Therefore, the longlist's primary function is to encompass all candidates who initially qualify, allowing for a thorough review and a more refined shortlist to be generated for interviews.